Girl Scout Booth Sale #6 of 2014

Another day, another booth sale.  Same location too.  The weather was nicer, so we were back outside selling our cookies.  Tonight, we sold about 60.

Happy Birthday, Baby Brother!

Happy Birthday to my little brother!  

Well, he is younger, but not smaller.  :-)  Growing up, he was so short and skinny.  When he got to college, he finally hit a growth spurt and is now taller than I am.

I have always wanted to have a close relationship with him, and I have tried many times, but for some reason, it just hasn't happened.  Not the relationship I want.  Now, with his life choices, that rift between us has only grown deeper and more silent.  Maybe someday he'll figure it out.  I can only do so much.

Despite this, I wish him the happiest birthday, safety, and good health.

Happy Birthday, Bub!

Girl Scout Booth Sale #5 of 2014

Tonight, our girls ran another booth sale.  Due to the cold temps, the girls were allowed back inside, just inside the door.  While people got their groceries and rented lots of movies, few were buying cookies.  We sold around 50 boxes in 2 hours.  We did get several donations, which we loved!

GS Activities--I'm Torn

I am so torn in dealing with Girl Scouts this year (and last).  I started this troop along with my BFF for her daughter and my niece.  I love GS and what it stands for and does for girls.  I am living proof of the wonderfulness of the organization.  However, with my niece no longer here regularly, no longer at monthly meetings (in person or via Skype), and no longer able to join us for weekend activities, I have the absolute hardest time wanting to schedule anything (on weekends that I am available). I love my girls and GS, but without my niece here, I hurt.  I love sharing new experiences with her and teaching her things, but it is hard to do with a troop of girls when she is missing.  I continue doing the meetings, booth sales, and more, but overall, I am so torn about extra activities.

This year, I have organized it so that the girls are more responsible for the meetings.  Booth sales are going fine.  I just can't get things going outside of our once a month meetings.

I have contacted all the Brownie parents with options from our Council website.  They seem interested, so I am trying to get the parents to pick activities and split up who drives and does what.  I have done the same thing with the Juniors, but I have only heard from one parent.  I figured that if I can't take the girls then if they worked together, they could still do things if the parents take them.  We only have 2 Cadettes, so I can make a plan for them.

I want the girls to love GS and want to stay in, so I don't want my inactivity to stop that, but this is hard and weighing on me.

Several have asked about camping, but I can't take them--not without my niece.  Maybe in the future, I can get parents to get the certification needed and let them take the girls camping. I don't know.  Maybe I need to be more honest with everyone about my feelings (that I have kept bottled up inside).

I don't know.  We'll see how the rest of the year goes.

I'm Registered!

I am officially registered for the Hot Chocolate 15/5K--America's Sweetest Race on February 8th!  I can't wait!  I'm doing it for the experience, friendship, and fun.  I will not be trying to beat a record--just cross the finish line before they take up the barriers and remove security.  Ha ha!

Maria Shriver Interview and Realizations

Today, I picked up Mom's December 2013/January 2014 AARP magazine and read the interview with Maria Shriver.  She said many things I found interesting, but two specific things stuck with me.

"When she is asked which of her many roles is her favorite, Shriver pauses, then says, 'I'm trying to get away from roles. I used to identify myself strictly in terms of my role, but when your roles fall away, part of you falls with them'" (36).

With the life changes I have experienced the last few years, I have had a hard time figuring out whom I am.  Who I truly am.  Am I the role I have at work?  Am I only seen as an educator or is there more to whom I am? My entire world was wrapped up in being an Auntie to my niece and nephew, and with them no longer here, I don't have the same role.  I have had to learn who I am without them.  I have had to figure out what to do and how to fill my time now.  I constantly ask God who I am meant to be and if I am doing what He wants. If there has been such a huge, dramatic change in my life, then what is next and how do I find and do that role?
So, yes, with every life and job change, our roles change, and we change who we are. We have to learn who we are without identifying with the roles we fill.
Who am I?  Do I like who I am?


"You have to be willing to let go of the life you planned in order to make the life you're meant to live" (37).

This has been a huge struggle of mine lately when I think of my niece and nephew.  Like parents thinking about their children's futures, being so incredibly involved in their lives, I had hopes and wishes for them too.  I have had to come to terms with the fact that who I thought they would grow up to be, which friends they would have, the types of lives they would have . . . that is all different now.  Yes, I know this is weird, and you are probably thinking I shouldn't have even had these kinds of thoughts for them as I am not their mother, but when you live as closely as we did, were as involved as I was (with their parents' permission and blessing), it is hard not to have these kinds of thoughts and wishes for them.  Letting go is scary, emotion, and difficult.

I have also been thinking about this when it comes to my own life.  I have said it before.  I always thought I would go to college, meet the man of my dreams, get married and start my career, have kids by my late 20s/early 30s, etc.  Well, I went to college and started my career, but all the personal stuff hasn't happened.  I have come to terms with that.  Well, I'm trying to any way. Right now, I am very focused on living the life God wants me to live.  Does it involve a husband some day? Kids?  I have no idea. I have learned to live right now and leave the rest to God.

It had been very difficult coming to these realizations and finding my new role or identity in life.

Girl Scout Booth Sale #4 of 2014

This morning was our fourth booth sale of the season.  Three girls and another parent were with me in front of our large super center.  We dressed in layers, expecting the temperature to be in the 30s and 40s, but the Sun was shining with all its might, so we warmed up quickly.  We sold 60 boxes today.

Crazy Week at Work

Well, we have finished a 4 day week that was just a little crazy.

• At least 2 days involved splitting classes because teachers were out and subs didn't pick up jobs or cancelled. 
• We gave 9 week assessments over two days. 
• Our Science Fair was on Wednesday. 
• My office-mate and I led a Professional Development with our SpEd teachers on Thursday afternoon. 
• We have a push-in teacher starting, so we had to prepare for her.  
• I am trying desperately to find two more push-in teachers specifically for Science, and I am running out of time. 
• On Monday, I begin teaching a 5 week two hour class that consists of 7th & 8th grade Science and 7th & 8th grade Social Studies.  Yep!  That takes some thinking, planning, and prep work.
• I visited classes, met with teachers, answered all kinds of quetions, helped get Science Fair projects back to students, and more.
• I had a great meeting with my principal and one with my assistant principal. There is no need for me to question my job!  Nope, not at all.  It is so nice to be/feel supported.

There was so much work for only 4 days!

To get it out of my system and to get ready for the weekend, I went to Curves, did the 30 minute circuit, and then rode the stationary bike for 30 minutes.  The screen is broken, so I couldn't see how many calories I burned or how many miles I went, probably 5 or 6, but I did it, and that is all that matters.  Here's to the start of a relaxing weekend!

Girl Scout Booth Sale #3 of 2014

This afternoon/Tonight, 4 girls and a few parents braved the freezing temperatures and even more frigid wind chill to sell Girl Scout Cookies.  The folks at our local grocery store have always been absolutely amazing, and today was another example of their greatness.

The parents and girls were bundled up in many layers to be prepared for the weather, but when they arrived, the store manager allowed them to move inside the entry between the two sets of doors where the carts are stored.  It was still cold b/c the doors wouldn't stay closed, but it was so much warmer than being in the whipping, freezing wind.

I arrived with about 30 minutes to go, and when I saw the manager, I thanked him.  He said, "No thanks necessary.  You would be popsicles by now."

All the employees are just so kind, and we greatly appreciate them!  In the end, watching folks run in and out braving the cold to get their dinners and other groceries, the girls sold 53 boxes.

Science Fair 2014

This afternoon was our annual campus Science Fair.  At my school, all student sin GT (Gifted and Talented) Science and Pre-AP Science are required to complete a Science Fair project.  I ask our teachers to get the students started in October, have due dates for the different parts throughout the fall, and then take up the projects a few days before our campus Science Fair.  We had around 10-14 different categories this year.  The judges tried to give 1st-3rd for each category, but that wasn't possible for all categories.  We can send 20 projects to the next level where they compete with students from the surrounding counties.  That will occur on February 15th. 

It makes for a long afternoon/evening for me.  We have so many projects with no place to display them, so we organize them in the cafeteria for judges, who I reserve, to judge after school.  This can last anywhere from 3:30-7:00.  (I provide snacks and drinks for our volunteer judges.) This year, the judges were finished by 6:30, and then two helped me move all the projects to the teachers' rooms or the library b/c the cafeteria has to be cleared out by morning.  We put all those earning ribbons on display in the library to be taken home by Friday afternoon. 

We had some neat projects, but I'm so tired, I can't remember specifics.

The Walking Continues

My BFF and I went for a walk again today on the trail we found yesterday.  We went just over 2.5 miles at a 17 minute pace.  Getting better!

Girl Scout Booth Sale #2 of 2014

We had another booth sale today.  This time, we were in front of a larger super center.  While there were a lot of people going in and out, we didn't do as well today as we did last night.  We only sold 78 boxes.  Well, maybe we will have better luck at the next one.

Fitness and Health

As you have seen by the recipes we have been trying, I am trying to eat healthier.  I have also tried to include a workout of some type each day.  If I only do the circuit at Curves, I try to walk on my treadmill about 30 minutes that night.  If I don't make it to Curves, I try to walk for an hour to get in 3 miles on the treadmill.  Since my BFF has begun focusing on her health and fitness, I have tried to join her when I can at Curves.  While she adds the treadmill workout at the end, I ride the stationary bike.

Today, in order for my BFF to have some family time and get in our workout, I went with her and her 3 kids to a walking trail.  It was a nice walk, despite the crazy wind and somewhat cooler temps.  The kids enjoyed it, we felt great, and we set a base line for minutes per mile.  Our goal is to get to a 15 minute mile.  We are at 19 right now.

I have convinced both BFFs to enter the Hot Chocolate Run on Feb. 8th, so we have to make sure we can walk close to a 15 minute mile for all 3 miles.  We are so excited and dedicated to this.

Girl Scout Booth Sale #1 of 2014

We had our first booth sale of the season tonight, and it went well.  We were in front of our local grocery store from 6:00-8:00.  Even as the temps were falling, the girls did an amazing job.  We sold 129 boxes!

Teachers, Subs, and Questioning My Job

I don't have research on this, but in my experience, other than days when teachers are out for Professional Development, teachers miss more days due to illness, their own or a family member's, and take more "mental health" days when they are not happy in their job.  Right now, these are colliding at my school.

With a new Principal, new Assistant Principal, and second year of the other Assistant Principal, we have seen a lot of change this year.  All change for the better.  Systems are either being fixed or being put back in place.  Accountability is happening.  We have had changes in some positions already this year--as soon another secretary is hired, everyone in the front office will be new (except our phenomenal Principal's Secretary).  Teachers are being asked to step-up and do their jobs or do them better than they have been.  With all the changes, accountability, and systems, teachers are stressed, crunched for time, and finding it much easier to be negative than positive or to do what's best for our students.  It is not easy working at my school and teaching our students, but our students need to get a great education and realize there is a way out of the situations they are in right now.  It can be done.  We need teachers modeling for, teaching, and loving them.  There is so much negativity and griping that we have this core "cancer" pulling everyone down.  People are unhappy.  They want out, but they either can't find another job or are waiting until the end of the year.  The more stress teachers feel, the more they don't want to be at work, they more they call in.

This time of year hits everyone hard with Strep, the Flu, Bronchitis, colds, and so much more.  Teachers are out b/c they are sick or their children or a loved one are sick.

No matter the reason for being out, we are short subs. Every day last week, we were short 1-2.5 subs.  Decisions have to be made about how to cover those classes.

It isn't just that teachers are out.  We completely understand illness and that things happen, but the teachers have to leave their rooms ready for the next day.  Work, directions, and sub information (schedules, seating charts, rosters, etc.) must be left on desk tops before leaving every day.  It would also be nice if the desk was left in such a way that it is easy to find paper and pen when needed.   Whether or not we have subs or not, classes are being left unprepared and messy, making it quite difficult for anyone trying to work in that room or assist the teachers/subs to be able to do a good job.

The misconception in the building is that it is my job, along with my co-worker with the same position, to cover classes when teachers are out and there aren't enough subs.  That is not my job. I can help, but it is not MY job.
1.  I have been told by several people that b/c of the funds that pay me, I cannot cover classes b/c that involves different funds, and if anyone found out about this, we could all get in trouble.  (That wasn't the best explanation, but I know what they meant.)
2.  I have a job.  My job is multi-layered, involves a long list of things daily, and a lot of what most teachers probably don't realize.  If I'm constantly pulled to cover for missing subs and teachers, I would not get MY job done, and then other things would not get done across the building/curriculum.
3. If students are split into other content classes, they are going to get a better lesson.  Those teachers know the content, where they are in the curriculum, and can assist the students the best.
4. I assist people all over the building, cover for ARDs, attend meetings, and more, and it isn't always feasible for me to be in a classroom.

Twice in the last two weeks, that I know of (it was probably far more than that), comments were made about me and my job.
1. When I created a meeting agenda for Department Chairs to follow on our Professional Development day, one teacher felt I was "justifying" my job by doing that and giving it to them.  Really?  I don't have to justify my job to anyone.  Period.
2. After spending a week splitting classes every day, a teacher questioned if I ever cover classes.  Yes, I do, but not every day or even every week.  It completely depends on the class period, the day, and what is on my daily agenda.  I have huge things coming up, and I can't be in a classroom all the time.

Bottom line is that we need teachers to be at school unless it just cannot be helped.  We aren't a business where you can put work off until tomorrow.  Our jobs involve humans who must be supervised when in the building on the 177 days they are required to be at school. If teachers have to be out, they must have something for their students to do, and if they are prepared before they leave every day, it would be easier on everyone.  Also, if teachers do not want to be there, they need to resign and move on.  Let us get someone in there we can count on day in and day out so we can educate our students.

...and Jill Came Tumbling After

My BFF has returned to blogging to record her "New Year, New Me: Fit and Fabulous before 40" transformation.  I am so super excited for and proud of her!  Go check out her blog, ....and Jill Came Tumbling After, at http://jillculmo.blogspot.com.

She had some great successes today--100th workout, 4 days of no Coke, increased her walking, and good dinner choice to continue focusing on being gluten free.

I BELIEVE in her, and I know she can do this.

I really, really liked this one!

It made far more than 8 servings, but our tortillas were on the small side, so that is probably part of it.  We will use less salsa next time b/c the dish was very salty, and we could tell some of that came from the salsa.  We did not include scallions, chili powder, and green chili peppers.

Baked Turkey and Jack Cheese Chimichangas

6 PointsPlus Value

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 30 min

Serves: 8

No need to fry this traditional Mexican dish: Simply bake until the tortillas are lightly browned and crisp. Serve with spicy salsa and a dollop of sour cream.

Ingredients 2 spray(s) cooking spray      1/2 pound(s) uncooked ground turkey breast      16 oz fat free canned refried beans      1 3/4 cup(s) fat free salsa      4 1/2 oz canned green chili peppers, mild, drained and diced    1 tsp chili powder      3 Tbsp uncooked scallion(s), thinly sliced    1 cup(s) reduced-fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese    8 item(s) (large) burrito-size wheat flour tortilla(s)      1 cup(s) fat free salsa      1/2 cup(s) fat free sour cream    Instructions Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Coat a 13- X 9- X 2-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add turkey to skillet and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain any excess liquid from pan and then add beans, 1 3/4 cups of salsa, chili peppers, chili powder and scallions. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes; stir in cheese. Meanwhile, wrap tortillas in foil; warm in oven for 10 minutes. Assemble chimichangas by spooning about 1/2 cup of turkey mixture onto each tortilla; fold in sides and roll up. Place chimichangas, seam-side down, in prepared baking dish. Bake, uncovered, until tortillas are crisp and browned, about 20 minutes. Serve each topped with 2 tablespoons of salsa and 1 tablespoon of sour cream. Notes For a flavor boost, look for epazote, a pungent herb with a taste similar to cilantro, at Mexican and Central American food stores. Chop some up and sprinkle it over the finished dish.

Flank Steak Tacos

Another yummy new recipe!

We skipped the Paprika since we didn't have any, and we didn't use the Cayenne Pepper since we don't use hot/spicy things.

Flank Steak Tacos

serves 8 ( 2 tacos= 7 points+) add points for toppings

• 2 T. olive oil
• 1 T. paprika
• 2-¼ tsp. cumin
• 1-½ tsp. brown sugar
• ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 ( 2 lb.) flank steak
• 16 small, flour tortillas

Combine first 8 ingredients (and salt & pepper). 

Rub over both sides of steak. 

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Grill steak to desired doneness. Let stand 10 minutes. 

Slice against grain.
Divide steak evenly among tortillas and top with your favorite toppings.

Bubble-Up Enchilada Casserole

Tonight, we tried another new recipe.  I was a little leery of the biscuits, and it still seemed weird seeing them all cooked up, but the whole thing tasted really good.  We used ground beef instead of bison. We left out the green chiles b/c we don't do hot, spicy things or peppers.  I wanted a small can of biscuits, but we could only get large biscuits in an 8 count, so I only used 4 of them and cut them into sixths.  We paired it with corn. Quite yummy and easy.

Bubble-Up Enchilada Casserole

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground bison
• 1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chiles
• 1 can reduced-fat refrigerator biscuits
• 1-1/2 c shredded low-fat Mexican cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 13" x 9" casserole dish with non-stick spray. Brown the bison in a large skillet and drain if needed. Add the cans of enchilada sauce, tomato sauce and chiles, then stir to combine. Cut the refrigerated biscuits into fourths, then stir them into the meat mixture.

Add the mixture evenly to the casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the cheese, then bake an additional 10 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Adapted from: WeightWatchers.com & Emily Bites

PointsPlus™ Value: 8

Girl Scout Cookie Time

Tonight, we had our annual Troop/Parent Cookie meeting because our sales start tomorrow.  Things are different this year.  We usually take orders and then deliver cookies in mid-February.  This year, we can take orders and make deliveries simultaneously.  We also start booth sales a month to 5 weeks earlier, so they start next week. Our cookies also went up to $4.00 a box too.  The girls are so excited.

Pork Chops with Cream Gravy

We tried a new recipe tonight--another one I found on the 30 Weight Watchers recipes site.  It was really good!  The gravy was lumpier and thicker than I think I've ever had, but it was good.  I would absolutely eat this again.

Pork Chops with Cream Gravy

serves 8 ( 7 points +)

• 1 egg
• ½ c. skim milk
• 1 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1-¼ c. Panko Japanese bread crumbs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 boneless pork chops ( 4 oz. each)
• 3 T. light butter, divided
• ¼ c. flour
• ⅓ c. fat-free beef broth
• 1-½ c. 2% milk

In a shallow bowl, whisk together egg and skim milk.
In another bowl, combine Panko, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper.


Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast iron pan. Add 2 T. butter and melt.
Dip pork chops in egg mixture, then coat in Panko mixture. Place in pan and cook for 4 minutes per side or until browned.


Transfer pork to a large baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Bake, uncovered, at 425 for 15-20 minutes or until no longer pink.


Meanwhile, melt remaining 1 T. butter in pan. Stir in flour. Gradually add beef broth and then milk. Bring to a boil, while continually whisking. Cook until thickened. Serve with pork chops.

Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Melted Mozzarella

We tried a new recipe tonight that I found on a Pinterest link for 30 Weight Watchers meals. It was tasty.  I like Spinach, but I have never put it with chicken like this.  I always just eat it as a side, but it was good on top of the chicken. 

We did tweak it a little.
We used 16 oz. of frozen Spinach, which was too much for me.  We also skipped the roasted Red Peppers.  We used 2 teaspoons of Garlic Powder rather than 3 Garlic Cloves.

Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Melted Mozzarella
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • S Size: 1 cutlet, spinach, cheese • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 4 pts
Calories: 153.3 • Fat: 4.2 g • Protein: 24.5 g • Carb: 4.0 g • Fiber: 1.3 g • Sugar: .7 g

Ingredients:

• 21 oz (3 large) chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise to make 6 cutlets
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 10 oz frozen spinach, drained
• 3 oz shredded part skim mozzarella
• 1/2 cup roasted red pepper, sliced in strips (packed in water)
• olive oil spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly spray a grill with oil (I used my George Forman) or grill outside on a gas grill. Cook chicken on the grill until no longer pink, careful not to overcook or you'll have dry chicken.

Meanwhile, heat a sauté pan on medium heat. Add oil and garlic, sauté a few seconds, add spinach, salt and pepper. Cook a few minutes until heated through.

When chicken is done, lay on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment for easy clean-up. Divide spinach evenly between the 6 pieces and place on top. Top each with half oz mozzarella, then slices of roasted pepper and bake until melted, about 6-8 minutes.

Battleship Texas

We met the boys this morning and then we went our separate ways.  (Boo!)  They really had a good time sleeping on the ship. From the moment they stepped aboard the Battleship Texas, they were treated like true Navy seamen.

Armand Bayou Nature Center, San Jacinto Monument, and Johnson Space Center--NASA

This morning, we decided to check-out the Armand Bayou Nature Center.  They have pontoon rides to see nature by water, but it was a little costly, and they only had 2 seats left. We decided to go any way and check out the rest of the nature center.

 Checking out the wetlands.

 Soft-shell Turtle

 Armand Bayou

 Armand Bayou

 Bison

My nephew and brother met our local (and their former) Boy Scout Troop at the San Jacinto Monument to go sleep on the Battleship Texas.  We checked out the historical site.

 Views from the top of the San Jacinto Monument

 

View of the Mexican camp before/after the battle

  

You can see the Battleship Texas as well as the area where the Texians camped before/after the battle.

 This is the actual battleground, which has been turned in to a reflecting pool.

 

View of the San Jacinto Monument from the Battleship Texas.

With the boys going to the ship, my niece was dying to go to the Johnson Space Center--NASA, so we girls took off for some Science/Space fun.

Their traveling exhibit was all about DaVinci and his drawings/ideas. They turned his drawings and notes into exhibits. It was very neat! They had a tank based on his drawings too.  He was 400 years before his time.

 Flying Machine

 Olive Oil Press

 Flying Machine

 Cannon

 Anenometers

We took the blue tram to see sites on the grounds.

 This will be Mission Control beginning September 2014.

Part of the Musuem.  

It also had moon rocks and showed what it was like inside the rockets and space shuttle.

Houston Zoo and Downtown Aquarium

When I asked the kids what they wanted to do in Houston, they both said, "The Houston Zoo and Downtown Aquarium!" So we went!

Houston Zoo

 Sea Turtle

 Red Panda

 Fruit Bat

This picture should actually have the branch running along the left side with the bat leaning to the right eating the fruit.

 Meerkat

 Asian Elephant

This one came over to eat while we were standing there and got hay all over us.  It was fun to be that close watching it eat.  Another one came over to eat too.

 Bald Eagle

 Goats at the Petting Farm

 Lion

 American Alligator

It is not an albino alligator.  It is just white.

Downtown Aquarium

 Sting Rays we could actually touch

 Shark Tank

They have a train you ride through the shark tank.  It stops, tells you about the sharks, and lets you see them all for several minutes.  They even have Sawfish, which were really neat.

(Yes, I know my picture is blurry.)

 Octopus

(Sorry about the reflection at the bottom of the picture.)

 

 White Tiger

Lobster

(It had a lot of blue on it, so it might have been a Blue Lobster, but I don't remember.)

Houston Museum of Natural Science

We took a little mini-vacation to spend time with my niece and nephew over Winter Break.  We spent this afternoon at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. My niece was excited to visit this museum.

They have an amazing collection of shells and prehistoric skeletons/fossils.

Their traveling exhibit was about Egypt.  My nephew was excited about this part.

This is a replica of the Rosetta Stone.  I have had the privilege of seeing the real Rosetta Stone at the British Museum.